Built around the Daimler Benz DB 601A engine (due to the lack of adequately powerful Italian engines), the Macchi C.202 "Folgore" flew for the first time on August 10, 1940, exactly two months after the entrance of Italy into WW2. The total amount of C.202's produced was only 1,100 units. Originally only two 12,7mm machine guns were placed over the engine, but this was later supplamented by two 7,7mm machine guns placed in the wings.The Powerplant was a 1,175hp Alfa Romeo AR1000 RC 41-1 Monsone which was the licenced version of the German Daimler-Benz DB-601.
From 1942 onwards, the C.202 was supplied to most of the Regia Aeronautica's first-line fighter units, but by the end of the year the worsening military situation, in addition to the appearance of the Curtiss P-40, the Lockeed P-38 and finally the Spitfire Mk IX, made it clear that the amount of C.202s available was too small to sustain the rate of losses facing an enemy capable of putting hundreds of aircraft in the air at once. The C.202 however, fought on all fronts including Russia and continued to fight with the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force even after the Armistice.
This is the first Macchi I built by Hasegawa, the second was the "Cavillono Rampante" which I have just completed and the third is the Egyptian Air Force C.205. There are still three more on my shelf to do, one C.202 and two C.205's of which one will definitely be a Luftwaffe machine. This model was built straight out of the box with the exception of the decals and seatbelts and buckles made from masking tape.
Construction begins of course with the cockpit which consists of a dozen finely molded components. The instrument panel is well done with raised detail and dials. You have a choice of painting the instruments on or using kit supplied decals. I painted mine. From there, you basically follow tradition. The cockpit fits nicely between the fuselage sides and the two halves go together flawlessly. Once the fuselage was glued with Tenax, all that has to be done is polish off the glue stain with fine sandpaper and then steelwool. next comes the only part of the kit that is not perfect, the upper cowling. This will take a bit of filing and jiggling about to get a smooth fit. Next the tail planes were attached. Then the wings and main gear bays were assembled and fitted to the completed fuselage. The gear bays are nicely done and have more than acceptable detail. Finally the propeller and radiator were assembled and the completed radiator attached to the fuselage. The model was then washed and painting was underway. All paints used were Testor's ModelMaster and I used Tenax 7R and Humbrol glue throughout. I recommend this kit for anyone regardless of modeling experience. As I mentioned the upper cowling was the only item even resembling a problem, and that's why we have files and sandpaper, right?